Olympic Legacy Fund has provided £27,990 of match funding
The Waringstown CC Legacy Project
Craigavon, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, United Kingdom
Aim
Modernising Waringstown Cricket Club to ease the load on volunteers, improve facilities, and secure a sustainable future.
Who are we?
Waringstown Cricket Club, with a proud history and six All-Ireland trophies to its name, has long been a hub for cricket excellence and community engagement. In recent years, we have invested heavily in developing youth and women’s cricket, culminating in a landmark 2024 season in which our Women’s 1st XI won the Premier League, Challenge Cup, and finished runners-up in the All-Ireland Final.
The club continues to grow both on and off the field, building strong community links and a vibrant, volunteer-driven culture. As we prepare for the next phase of our development — including the completion of our indoor training centre — we are focused on ensuring that our facilities, equipment, and infrastructure can sustain our progress and meet the demands of a busy modern cricket club.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Like many community clubs, Waringstown relies heavily on volunteers to prepare facilities and deliver match and training programmes. On match days, preparation can begin four to five hours before play, with extensive manual work required to ensure pitches and outfields are ready. This project seeks to modernise our ground operations, reducing the physical and time burden on volunteers and ensuring our facilities are fit for purpose for the growing number of teams and fixtures the club now hosts.
These investments will also build capacity to stage larger matches and representative games, strengthening Waringstown’s role as a leading cricket venue in Northern Ireland and supporting the long-term sustainability of the club ahead of the indoor centre’s completion.
How we’ll spend the £43,062 raised:
We are incredibly grateful to Sport NI, who through The Olympic Legacy Fund, are contributing 65% of the total cost of this project.
Their support is helping us make a lasting difference to cricket in our community — ensuring that Waringstown Cricket Club continues to grow, thrive, and provide opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.
Mini Blotter with All Fittings: £19,740
A specialised piece of cricket ground equipment used to remove standing water from covers and the outfield. This investment will significantly reduce volunteer time spent preparing the ground — particularly on wet match days — and enhance the club’s ability to host larger fixtures more efficiently and reliably.
Merlyn Bowling Machine and 36 Bowling Machine Balls: £14,022
A high-performance bowling machine designed to replicate high-quality spin bowling. It will raise the standard of training across senior and youth teams, offering consistent, elite-level practice that supports player development and growth within our expanding membership.
Kress Robotic Mower: £9,300
An automated outfield mower that delivers consistent, professional-quality maintenance and presentation. By automating this essential task, the club will reduce reliance on volunteer labour, improve efficiency, and ensure our facilities remain in top condition throughout the season.
t’s important to be transparent about how you plan to spend the money you raise. Your audience will be more likely to make a pledge if they can see how their donation will help. Be specific and add a budget breakdown.
Community impact
Waringstown Cricket Club is a vital community hub, bringing people of all ages together through sport, social connection, and shared purpose. Our facilities support senior and youth cricket, local schools, and community groups, promoting health, wellbeing, and inclusion. This project will ease the workload on volunteers, improve playing and training conditions, and strengthen our capacity to host larger fixtures that attract visitors and boost the local economy. Beyond cricket, our grounds and pavilion are regularly used for community events and gatherings, helping to foster stronger social ties and ensure Waringstown remains a thriving, welcoming place for everyone.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
A huge thank you again to Sport NI and The Olympic Legacy Fund for believing in us and supporting local sport!
This project successfully funded on 20th December 2025